PERT
Her pert response to the professor’s question made the whole class chuckle.
Fun Fact
“Pert” once meant “clever” in Middle English but evolved to describe liveliness with a hint of sass. A “pert nose” is small and upturned, while a “pert remark” has just enough spunk to be amusing, not offensive.
RAIR-uh-fyd
(adjective) Distant from the ordinary; elevated, refined, or thin (as in air at high altitudes).
The scientist’s rarefied theories fascinated her peers but left the public scratching their heads.
From Latin rarefacere, meaning “to make thin.”
Fun Fact
Originally used in physics to describe air thinned at high altitudes, rarefied later took on a metaphorical sense—ideas, lifestyles, or circles of influence that exist far above everyday experience. A rarefied discussion might deal with abstract philosophy, while a rarefied atmosphere could describe both mountaintops and elite social circles. The word captures the tension between refinement and isolation—how elevation, whether intellectual or physical, can be both exhilarating and lonely.
Today's Word Salubrious suh-LOO-bree-us Definition (adjective) Health-giving; promoting well-being. Example...
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